I explored the
Yamabiko Road alone on a recent day off, Don himself having completed the ride on a solo outing earlier this year. The Yamabiko Dori, as it is known, is approximately 5K long. Every 100 meters along its course is a cluster of stone slabs. The slabs are inscribed with poems , many in haiku form, by poets of local as well as international renown, including one by Matsuo Basho, the father of haiku. There are more than 250 inscribed monuments in all! The road climbs to a modest elevation and offers panoramic views of Niigata City, 40k distant.
The photo at bottom shows the restaurant in Murasugi where I ate lunch. Opened in October, the establishment serves Japanese dishes made with ingredients produced nearby, including rice, vegetables, and the tofu for which Murasugi is known. Though not especially fond of the sweet bean paste known as anko, I was treated gratis to a delicious serving of the house speciality, anmitsu, a decoction made from anko dissolved in hot water. 
1 comment:
Biking in Japan is one of best things to do. Keep up good blog!
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